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Operational Activities: Vultures

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Vultures are migratory birds that are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,

which is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, vultures are

sometimes associated with problems, such as agricultural and property damage and

health and safety concerns. Integrated solutions to address problems may include

habitat manipulation, dispersal techniques, and population management.

Two different species of vultures, black vultures and turkey vultures, are native to

North America. As scavengers, vultures play an important role in the ecosystem.

Formerly suppressed by the effects of pesticides on reproduction, populations of

both species have increased dramatically in recent years. Vultures adapt and thrive

in close proximity to people. They often form large roosts and loafing areas,

numbering from a few dozen to hundreds of individual vultures. Population trends

probably will continue to increase, as will the frequency of conflicts with people.

Biology and Ecology

Black Vulture 

Visit the CornellLab's All About Birds website to learn about the biology and ecology

of the black vulture.
Turkey Vulture 

Visit the CornellLab's All About Birds website to learn about the biology and ecology

of the turkey vulture.
Understanding Wildlife, Damage, and

Management

Damage and Conflicts with People and Agriculture

Because of their adaptable nature, increasing numbers, and complex behavior,

vultures are involved in a wide range of conflicts. These conflicts can occur in

agricultural environments as well as suburban and rural settings.

Damage to Agriculture

Both turkey and black vultures eat animals that have died from various causes.

Black vultures, however, can also attack and kill calves, lambs, piglets, and other

vulnerable animals. This predatory behavior often results in serious injury to

livestock, as vultures target the eyes and soft membranous extensive tissues. The

livestock often die from the attack or must be euthanized due to the extent of their

injuries. In most cases, methods can be employed to reduce livestock depredation.
These are covered in the Management Methods section. A first step in addressing

depredations is calling Wildlife Services in your state.

Damage to Property and Infrastructure

Problems often occur when large groups of vultures roost or occupy woodlots near

people's homes. Property damage to residences and commercial buildings from

black and turkey vultures includes tearing window caulking, roof shingles, vent

seals, rubber roof liners, and pool covers. They may also damage vehicles by

scratching paint, removing rubber seals and wipers and puncturing vinyl seat

covers. Black and turkey vultures can affect people's quality of life due to

accumulations of feces and regurgitations, especially when they loaf on roofs of

houses, office buildings, playground equipment, and communication towers.

Vultures roosting on electrical transmission structures can produce accumulations of

feces and vomit that in turn lead to power outages and communication disruptions,

at great expense to service providers.

Health and Safety Concerns

Vultures can cause health and safety problems due to the accumulations of their

droppings and their roosting and soaring behaviors. Contamination of water sources

may occur when coliform bacteria from droppings enter water towers or springs

which supply water to residences and businesses. Citizens frequently express health

concerns because of the accumulation of droppings from roosts near their homes.

Many people consider vultures a nuisance because of the white-wash effect their

droppings leave on trees at roost sites, and the ammonia odor that emanates from

roost sites. Large concentrations of vultures are common, especially near roosts and

landfills. Vultures can be hazardous to aircraft, especially when waste management

facilities and landfills are located near airports. Vultures are especially prone to bird

strikes because they are large, slow-moving, not very maneuverable, and often

multiple birds can be seen soaring together.

Vulture Damage Management Methods

Vulture management can be complicated and site specific. Biologists can examine a

location and suggest management methods starting with habitat features and

reducing attractants. Auditory and visual dispersal methods such as lasers and

propane cannons, as well as deploying effigies can be effective. Wildlife Services
provides technical information and direct management for vulture conflicts and can

facilitate the required depredation permit process through WS State Offices. A

Migratory Bird Depredation Permit must be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, and State laws must be consulted and adhered to, prior to initiating actions

to remove vultures or handle their nests and eggs.

To contact the Wildlife Services State Office near you for additional information,

state-specific assistance, and recommendations related to vultures, please contact

your state.

More Information

Wildlife Services Factsheet: Vulture Damage Management

Fish & Wildlife Services (FWS) - Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Application

More about FWS permits and the Federal laws and Treaties that relate to

migratory birds

Step-by-step to a federal permit

Farm Service Agency Livestock Indemnity Program

Links to FSA State/County Offices

Research

Wildlife Services' National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) conducts research and

investigational activities on a wide variety of wildlife damage issues. NWRC

Scientists at the NWRC Florida Field Station focus much of their efforts on

developing methods for management of turkey and black vultures. In the course of

this research, hundreds of vultures have been marked with wing tags having

individual 3-letter codes. You can help by reporting sightings of tagged vultures.
Research publications relating to specific vulture management issues can be

accessed through the link below. NWRC has also developed guidelines for using

effigies as a roost dispersal tool to minimize property damage, protect agriculture,

and to relieve human health and safety concerns.

More Information

Vulture Research at the NWRC Florida Field Station

Vulture Research Publications

USDA Vulture Tagging

Information and Resources

Wildlife Services Factsheet: Vulture Damage Management

Fish & Wildlife Services (FWS) - Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Application

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Using Effigies to Disperse Nuisance Vulture Roosts

Contact Us

Wildlife Damage Assistance

Find your State office in the dropdown menu or call 866-4USDA-WS to be

automatically routed to a State office based on the area code you are calling from.

- Select a State - ▾

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